Bijou Mini-Matinee #44 - A Little King Christmas

Last week, Chris Buchman introduced us to the multi-talented and supremely gifted Otto Soglow. Today, we celebrate the holidays and New Year with a very special Bijou Mini-Matinee. In collaboration with Thunderbean Animation, we are pleased to help re-introduce into the popular culture an eccentric and endearing 1930s cartoon character known as "The Little King."

We asked Bijou friend and Thunderbean founder Steve Stanchfield to tell us how this remarkable theatrical animation series came into existence. After that, Steve and his associates have generously consented to share five highly entertaining samples from The Little King series for all of us to enjoy!

The very nature of film (and for that matter, all media) requires a continuous turnover, leaving highlights along the way that are celebrated and remembered. Often, these remembered films, successful in their time, were reissued, merchandised and chronicled, especially by the owners of the materials. Television offered the newer generations the chance to see many of the films long forgotten as well as those remembered, just as home video allows us to rediscover yet again.

The cartoon shorts produced by the Van Beuren studio are often dismissed in the annals of animation history, rarely receiving much more than a passing nod. It's understandable that they would take a back seat to the cartoon stars and innovations of the Fleischer and Disney Studios, and even Warner Brothers. All had major star characters throughout the run of their films, promoted well by the studios in magazines and licensed in countless ways.

Although Van Beuren's distributor, RKO/Pathe, clearly wanted the cartoons from the studio to be more successful, their efforts through the early 30's in promotion were minimal; nothing much beyond a handful of trade ads and a few books. A series of dolls based on the Aesop's Fables were made in the early 30's, and it's clear by their obscurity that very few of these were ever sold.

1931 brought Van Beuren's first earnest attempt at star characters in their own series with "Tom and Jerry', a tall and short comedy duo in the tradition of Mutt and Jeff and countless other comedy teams. Similar characters had been explored before as part of the Aesop's Fables series, but never named in the title cards or in the films. The series of Tom and Jerry cartoons had moderate success worldwide, but never close to the level of the cartoon stars promoted by the other major studios.

In 1933, RKO's fortunes improved, and with the success of their features, pressure to improve the quality of both their live-action and animated films and to create a 'star' led to Van Beuren testing out various new characters.

Cubby Bear was introduced, taking over the Aesop's Fables series as the 'main' character through the end of the series. The Tom and Jerry series was replaced by The Little King, based on Otto Soglow's popular comic strip character. Not long after, RKO also produced two Amos and Andy cartoons, based on the popular radio program.

The studio's later series were ambitious and creative; in viewing these little films it becomes clear that the studio was working hard to produce better cartoons with limited budgets. The Little Kings in particular are funny and inventive in story, layout and animation.

Cubby Bear lasted two years; The Little King series was only given a year. These series were followed by short lived 'Toddle Tales' series and the ambitious 'Rainbow Parade' cartoons, the latter achieving great success. When Disney made a deal with RKO to distribute it's films, RKO cancelled it's contract with Van Beuren.

The Van Beuren cartoons were sold to various rental and home movie distributors, and until recently have never been assembled together. Some of the films (such as Pals/Christmas Night) became widely available for many years, while others became rarer than a hen's tooth. It is understandable why many of the cartoons produced in the 1930's drifted in relative obscurity; unavailable as a whole to receive a deserved second look.

Let's give a second look to some favorites of ours, starring 'The Little King'.

Bijou Mini-Matinee #44

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THE FATAL NOTE (1933)
The Fatal Note introduces The Little King in grand bubbly style befitting the dignified sovereign in an amusing state of undress. His whole persona at once spells merriment and innocent mischief. Its tale of an anarchist from the working class (where else?) bent on removing a monarch, is well-constructed and supported by an outstanding music score.

In this cartoon is born the novel concept of palace lackeys heralding the adventure on which the King is about to embark by declaring it to be 'By Order of the Queen'! However pleasing, the animators wisely elected to employ the concept with discretion, repeating it only once in The Little King series in On the Pan.

SULTAN PEPPER (1934)
The genesis of Sultan Pepper originated in several of Soglow's New Yorker strips. Here is The Little King enjoying the joys of what comes naturally; reciprocating with his doggie, fetching a stick, performing a cartwheel, rolling over, flirting with the Sultan's wives, lustfully scampering after them, and reproving a ribald tale whispered by one of the scanty-panties.

In all probability, the assassination of an unlucky damsel at supper is too cold-blooded to have generated the intended amusement even in 1934. The score introduces a medley transformed a year later into "I Wish I Had a Dog" for "Merry Kittens" an entry in the Rainbow Parade series.

MARCHING ALONG (1933)
In Marching Along, 'things are in a terrible shape'. It's the Depression. Nothing is worth anything, not even at Uncle Jake's Pawn Shop. A new plan is suddenly announced. Its called the NRA (the National Recovery Act); and all ends happily.

Ethnic caricatures with varying degrees of offensiveness impersonate the repossessors. although the dialects were quite commonplace of the era.

The NRA was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in June 1933; and animated cartoons in support of it soon followed.

BETTY BOOP AND THE LITTLE KING (1936)
The Little King returned for a final fling in 1936 through the courtesy of Max Fleischer in Betty Boop and the Little King. The animators fattened him up, but kept him in true Soglowesque form. Although in black & white, the cartoon has all the earmarks of having been designed in color. It is exquisitely lush in concept and benefits from several three-dimensional sets.

The little fellow's playfulness, and make-believe innocence remain intact, and prove to be a winning act alongside Ms. Boop. He bounces along delicately, his tiny feet gracefully tapping the cobblestone street as if it were made of porcelain. The ankle-garter he wears is a nice touch. Thereafter The Little King retired from the screen to play and dream, but remains forever faithful to our bidding.

PALS (1933)
Pals is one of many Van Beuren cartoons considerably better than it's supposed to be, excelling in story, continuity, moving perspective animation of the grand staircase, and its colorfully-descriptive musical score. Enjoyable listening anytime!

Here are the characteristics that endeared The Little King to audiences: his child-like curiosity, playful spirit, blissful innocence, a dash of cunning and affectionate nature. Socially-conscious, he makes no distinction between the classes and shares Christmas with "forgotten men" of "The Great Depression" who proudly support President Roosevelt's NRA.

Pals (aka Christmas Night) has been an annual holiday favorite for 75 years and here we proudly present this creative cinematic concoction as originally presented in theaters.

Rarely seen and for many years not available to the general public, the entire collection of 12 Little King cartoons is now available in one comprehensive collection. The Complete Animated Adventures of The Little King is an inspired DVD anthology of eccentric, ribald and highly entertaining cartoons, many reminiscent of the pacing and energy of a Marx Bros. movie. The quality is superb and the DVD is loaded with extras including further insightful commentary and many original images and illustrations.

The collection was created and realized by Steve Stanchfield, Rex Schneider and Chris Buchman; produced and distributed by Thunderbean Animation in association with Blue Mouse Studios - and is available for purchase here.